Criticism of the Baháʼí Faith
Notable criticism of religious teaching / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Criticism of the Baháʼí Faith?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Baháʼí Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.
The criticisms the religion has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. In the West, liberals have criticized the Baháʼí Faith for some of its conservative social practices, notably the prohibition on premarital or homosexual intimacy for Baháʼís.[1] Western academics have criticized the requirement for Baháʼís to seek pre-publication review when publishing on the religion[2] and the exclusion of women from serving on the Universal House of Justice.[3][4] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Baháʼí community outside of Europe and North America.[5]
The religion's rise in the Middle East and subsequent movement into the West has given rise to a body of anti-Baháʼí polemic. Christian and Islamic authors (e.g., John Ankerberg) have criticized its history and founders, institutions, teachings, and use of prophecy.[6][7] In Iran and other parts of the Middle East, Baháʼís continue to be criticized for breaking with Islam and accused of conspiring with Western powers, resulting in intense persecution and the loss of civil rights.[1][8]
The Baháʼí Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. Every attempted Baháʼí schism has failed to attract more than a few hundred individuals and declined over time. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Baháʼís by the majority.[2][9]